Fostering Transparency and Reproducibility in Undergraduate Education: Empowering Data Researchers for the Future Speaker: Tatjana Kecojevic - Faculty of Humanities

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This presentation explores the integration of transparency, reproducibility, and openness into undergraduate education, employing a teaching methodology that leverages reproducible teaching materials created using R and RMarkdown. By utilising this approach, students are empowered to deeply engage with course content while ensuring the reproducibility of educational materials, thereby fostering a culture of transparency and enhancing the learning experience.
Emphasising the importance of teaching Data Science (DS) and Data Analytics (DA) to students from diverse backgrounds, including those without prior technical expertise, equips them with the skills to effectively reason with data. This bridges the gap between theory, methods, and practical application, preparing students for dynamic career opportunities in data-driven fields.
By leveraging the R programming language and RStudio IDE, particularly RMarkdown and Knitr interfaces, structured and interactive tutorial documents are created. These documents integrate plain English explanations of statistical methodologies with data analysis outcomes, prioritising conceptual comprehension and fostering hands-on learning experiences.
Moreover, the reproducibility aspect of RMarkdown enables students to develop updatable and transparent resources, instilling a lifelong learning mindset and promoting advocacy for robust research practices. This engagement extends beyond the classroom, empowering participants to become advocates through active participation and eventually evolve into mentors within the community.
Integrating transparent and reproducible research practices into undergraduate courses nurtures critical thinking, analytical skills, and ethical integrity among students. This innovative methodology showcases how educators can seamlessly integrate these practices into pedagogy, empowering students to become proficient data researchers and advocates for ethical research conduct. Embracing collaboration and multidisciplinary perspectives paves the way for a new generation of researchers committed to rigorous and accountable research practices.